Cork-gutting machine



{No Model.) 3 Sheets-$heet 1.

S. F. ROT'E 86 L. K. LANDIS. CORK CUTTING MACHINE. No. 491,375. PatentedFeb. '7, 1893.

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(Nu Model.) 3 Sheets-$heet 2.

S. R ROTH 8: L. K. LANDIS. GORK CUTTING MACHINE Na. 491,375. PatentedFeb. '2, 1893.

(No Model.)

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Utvrrsn STATES ATENT @l l lfihe SAMUEL F. RO'lE AND LEVI K. LANDIS, OFLANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

CORK-GUTTlNG MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 491,375, dated February*7, 1893.

Application filed May 21, 1892. Serial No. 488,881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, SAMUEL F. ROTE and LEVI K. LANDIS, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster andState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Cork-Gutting Machines; and we do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

The chief object of this invention is to pro vide an automatic machinefor blocking or cutting out bottle corks from cork strips, the saidmachine feeding the strips to the cutters and holding them in properposition for blocking, and the feeding and holding devices be ing madeadjustable to conform to the size of the strips and the size of corksdesired.

To this end the said invention consists partly in certain improvementsin the feeding mechanism; partly in certain improvements in the devicesfor holding the strips when the feeding devices withdraw; partly incertain devices for preventing the strips from being fed forward toofar, the said devices gaging the space between corksin order that. aslittle material as possible may be wasted; and finally in certaindetails of adjustment, and other features hereinafter set forth andclaimed.

Our invention also includes certain improvements in the devices foroperating and guiding the cutter and some additional features ofconstruction which need not now be more particularly stated.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a perspective view of amachine embodying ourinvention; Fig. 2 represents an end elevation ofthe same taken at the operating ends; Fig. 3 represents a longitudinalsection through the cutter and cutter-carriage and adjacent parts; Fig.4 represents a detail perspective view of the guide-casing and operatingplate of the feeding clamp, taken from the inner side; Fig. '5represents a perspective view of the feeding clamp detached from themachine, but without the said casing and plate; Fig; 6 represents aperspective view of the detachable and adjustable frame which supportsthe feeding devices; Fig. 7 represents in detail perspective the raisedand slotted wall J hereinafter described, the

holding or gaging finger which works through the same the adjusting nutJ the end of the screw-threaded rod or stud J 4 and divers proximateparts; and Fig. 8 represents a detail vertical section of a part of thedetachable and adjustable frame K, taken from the side opposite to thatshown in Fig. 6, and showing the screw-threaded rod or stud J with thenut J thereon.

In the said drawings A designates the supporting frame of the machine,resting on legs A.

B designates the driving-shaft, which turns in bearings 17 on the saidframe and is provided with a belt-wheel B for receiving power andabevel-wheelB for transmitting it. This bevel wheel meshes with asimilarbevel wheel 0 on one end of a short shaft C arranged atrightangles to the main shaft and turning with said wheel in a broad bearingbox 0' formed on the said frame. The other end of shaft 0 is providedwith a disk D, having a wrist-pin (1 arranged eccentrically on the outerface of it, to which the rear end of a pitman E is connected by asuitably packed clamping box e. The forward end of said pitman issimilarly clamped by a box 6' to a transverse pin f of a slidingcutter-carriage F. This carriage consists of a movable frame, sliding inguideways F of the main-frame A, the said frame or carriage F beingraised above the said main frame, to form in effect two cross-heads at ahigher level, provided with sectional hearings or blocks F in which thetubular arbor F of the tubular cork-cuttor G is clamped by means of nutsg, in two pairs, turning on screw-threaded posts or studs of the saidframe. The said arbor with the cutter is free to turn in the saidbearings, but, also moves back and forth with the said carriage. A fixedhorizontal clearer H is clamped by a screw h in a socket h of asupporting arch H, bolted to the said main frame, the said clearerbeingconcentric with the said tubular arbor and cutter, and extendingforward within the latter nearly to the cutting end thereof. The saidcutter by the operation of the said disk wrist pin and pitman is thrustforward to out. a bottle cork from a sheet or strip of that material,and simultaneously rotated by means of a belt applied to a drum orpulley G on the said cutter, this rotation contributing greatly to thecutting action. Then the continued opertion of the said disk andconnections withdraws the said cutter; and the said clearer, remainingmotionless, forces the cork out of the said cutter, so that it will dropdown below. The said clearer may be adjusted farther back, to compensatefor wear at the cutting end of the cutter. The latter is detachable fromits arbor, being held by screws f in the enlarged and socketed forwardend of the said arbor.

By connecting our cutter-reciprocating devices to the cutter-carriageinstead of directly to the arbor, we are enabled to avoid the clearerand thus make use of the efficient mechanism shown without entanglementor impediment. Hitherto the arbor has generally been reciprocated infixed bearings, necessitating the placing of these far enough apart toallow for the backward and forward travel of the driving pulley,compelling the use of a longer arbor than we now employ, and making itrequisite also to use a treadle or other ineffective form of actuatingmechanism, or to connect the parts in some unusual and inconvenient way.

In order to compensate for the wear of the cutter, and keep the corkalways in the same position With reference thereto,the cork supportingdevices are made adjustable longitudinally with respect to the mainframe A. As shown,we effect this by employing a platform I, which ismovable in guide ways 2' of the said frame A. These guideways are slotsextending through the sides of the said frame and receiving lateralextensions 1 of the said platform reduced in thickness. From each ofthese extensions, a screw-threaded stud 1' protrudes outside of the saidframe and receives a nut 6 which binds against the outside of the latterand thus fastens the said platform in the position to which it has beenadjusted. By loosening the said nuts and moving up the said platformtoward the said cutter and then tightening the said nuts again, in thefamiliar manner of such adjustment, the cork may be kept always at thesame distance from the cutting edge, when the cutter is at its farthestpoint of withdrawal, and consequently the stroke of that tool will bealways equal and exactly sufficient to properly cut the corks from thestrip, without injury to the edge. On this adjustable platform all theparts are mounted that have to do with holding and regulating the motionof the cork strips. First there is a raised rigid plate or wall J castwith or secured to the said platform, and constituting at its edge aguide for a vertically adjustable frame K, which is much wider than itsheight and slightly curved downward. On the face of this frame is therigid race or feed-way K for the strips of cork, as these aresuccessivelypresented forcutting. These strips are fed by the followingdevices. In a longitudinal guide slot 7a of the frame under the saidrace or feedway the base plate l of a feeding clamp is free to movebackward and forward, a guide block 1' of the raised and relativelystationary jaw or back plate L of the said feeding clamp fitting andsimilarly sliding in another slot of the said frame above the saidfeedway, so as to more effectually brace the said clamp and be ready tohold the strip. The forward plate or jaw L of the said clamp is mademovable toward and from the said plate or jaw L and frame K; beingprovided with a flat horizontal bar L which extends through a guideway Zin the said base plate Z, the said guideway and bar being dovetailed toprovide for the support of the latter and of the jaw or plate L, whilepermitting their adjustability. The rear or outer end of the said barextends through the said base plate and frame K, so as to be in positionto be struck by a plate sliding along the rear face of the latter, andis beveled outwardly and away from the point of cutting or blocking, sothat every such contact of said plate while moving in that directionwill open the said jaw L by forcing inward the said bar.

The closing of the jaw L is effected by a spring M which surrounds a rodZ extending from the inner end of the said base plate Z through a plateor casting L raised on the corresponding end of the bar L The outer endof the said rod is screw-threaded to receive a nut Z which holds inposition a cap L The spring is located between the said cap and the saidplate or casting, and forces the latter toward the frame K carrying withit the movable jaw L. This movable jaw or plate L is not in one piecewith the bar L or the plate or casting L but is connected with thelatter by means of clamping screws m which pass through slots m,longitudinal with regard to frame A, formed in a horizontal baseextension m of the said jaw or plate, the said screws entering theraised plate or casting L. By means of these screws and slots, the saidjaw or plate L may be adjusted to suit a broader or narrower strip ofcork, without disturbing any other part of the feeding clamp.

The plate N for acting on the beveled end of the bar L has acorrespondingly beveled recess '17, to receive this end. The plate L ofthe feeding clamp is thickened above the said plate N, to form a longbroad shoulder N which serves as an upper guide for the latter duringits independent reciprocatory movement. But the said plate N is madelonger than the said shoulder and provided at its ends with raised lugsN, one of which will come in contact with one of the ends of the saidshoulder when the said plate N moves forward or backward more than aVery little way. This is calculated so that the plate N may first actindependently on the bar L so as to open the jaw L, compressing thespring M in doing so, and will then move back the entire feeding clampto the end of its travel. As the plate N moves independently in theopposite direction, it first leaves the spring M free to operate andthis closes the jaw or plate L against the strip of cork, which will beheld betweeuthe said jaw and the guideblock Z of jaw or plate L so thatthe said strip will be carried forward the predetermined distance withthe feeding clamp, to present the next uncut part of the said strip forblocking. The forward movement of the said feeding clamp is caused bythe engagement of the outer lug N of the plate N with the correspondingend of shoulder N as the said plate N moves forward. A guide-casing O,which is open at the ends, is secured to the frame K by bolts 0, forminga cap or cover for the plates L and N, which holds them in place, andbraces and strengthens them, though allowing the endwise motion of bothof them together, and of the latter plate alone to a limited extent, asset forth.

The slots in and 7e are madelong enough to allow the travel of thefeeding clamp to be increased or diminished in conformity to thediameter of the cork which is desired. The connections whereby the saidfeeding clamp is reciprocated require similar adjustability of throw.Therefore we employ a connecting rod or bar P having a longitudinal slot19 to receive adjusting screws 1) which turn into a link Q, the otherend of the said connecting rod being attached pivotally to a rod 0extending rigidly outward through a horizontal slot 0 of guide-casing O,the said stem or red being screw-threaded at its outer end to receive anut O which keeps the said rods together.

The link Q, is pivotally mounted at its outer end on a stud or bolt Q,which is fastened to the upper end of a lever B, the latter beingpivoted at its middle on a fixed stud r and having its lower endconnected by a bolt S to the arm 5 of a yoke or ring 8 that surrounds aneccentric B on the driving-shaft B. The bolts Q and S pass through slotsg g longitudinal with respect to the said lever, which allow theiradjustment by the usual expedient of loosening, shifting and tightening,so as to regulate the threw for increased or lessened travel of thefeeding clamp, in accordance with the other adjustment alreadydescribed. Through these connections the rotation of the main-shaftreciprocates the'fecding clamp as set forth, also opening it before eachbackward movement and allowing it to close before each forward movementas set forth. The pivot stud 'r is attached to a rigid lateral extensionJ of the wall or plate J and it is stationary, except the forward andbackward adjustment of the said wall with the platform I. The wall J isalso provided with another lateral extension J exteudingsomewhat aboveit and having a bearing sleeve j rigid therewith. In this sleeve anarbor or rock shaft t is mounted, having on its ends two arms T Tclamped there by screws t i so as to be capable of radial adj ustmcnt.The longer arm T rests on a cam B ot main-shaft B, so as to be liftedthereby as the said main shaft rotates, and alternately allowed to descend. The shorter arm T has at its free end an overlapping cross piecei rigid with it, which is arranged to press on the top of a longpressure arm U, this latter being piv-' oted by its outer end on a studor rod it fixed on the said extension J The free end of this pressurearm is provided with a bent spring 'u the approximately horizontal lowerpart of the latter resting on the strip of cork as this strip isdelivered to it by the feeding clamp. The pressure is caused by a springV, which is attached at one end to an arm fixed on extension J or someother stationary part of the frame and at the other end to the arm Taforesaid, which it draws down to force the cross piece 15 of arm T onthe press ure arm U. This yielding spring-pressure allows the holdingdevice to accommodate itself to any irregularity of the strip which itreceives. The spring of course acts on the feeding arm only when thelatter is in contact with arm T. At other times the feeding arm is notunder pressure.

The lower face of the free end of arm U is made nearly level with thecorresponding part of spring v, and will press on the strip of cork asit passes beyond this spring, the latter serving as a preliminaryholding device and slightly yielding guide and the lower face of thesaid arm constituting a presser foot- U which holds that part of thestrip of cork which at any time is opposite the cutter for blocking. Ifthere were no spring o, the feeding clamp would have to make a muchlongerjourneyin delivering the strip to the said pressure arm, andmoreover any breakage or inequality in the cork might lead to disastrousor wasteful consequences, as it would not be properly guided under thepresser foot. But the spring 0 alone would not reliably hold the stripWhile the cutting goes on, nor prevent it from being fed too far,thereby Wasting the material.

The presser foot must not be allowed to descend too far, so as to be inthe way of the knife. To gage its position and make this adjustable inconformity to the diameter of the knife and the cork to be blocked, alsothe height of the strip from which it is to be out, we provide thepressure arm U with a rigid plate or bar, extending over the fixedextension J 2 of wall J. A screw U passing down through this plate orbar, rests on the top of the said extension and by screwing it up ordown the point to which the presser foot will be allowed to descend isvaried to suit the requirements of the case. The vertical adjustment ofthe frame K must correspond thereto in order that the central line ofthe strip may I be opposite the center of the cutter, which retainsalways its position in one horizontal plane. To this end the wallJ isprovided with a vertical slot J which allows a screw threaded stud orred J rigid with frame K to extend out through it, receiving a clampingnut J for use in the usual manner. VVhenever a higher strip of cork isto be fed the feed-way is lowered and the presser foot is raised by theadjustments described, each movement being to allow for having one halfof the strip above the level of the center of the cutter and the otherhalf below it.

To allow the cam B carried by the mainshaft B to lift the arms T T andrelease the pressure arm U when that is adjusted for a thick strip ofcork thus necessarily holding up said arms, we loosen the screws t whichhold the arm T to the arbor or rock-shaft If, and turn the said armdown, so as to be more readily acted on by the said cam; then tightenthe said screws again. The screw 29 of arm T is preferably used forfastening only, but radial adjustment of this latter arm in the oppositedirection would have the same effect.

The spring V is attached to-the arm T by means of a screw-threadedrod 1) and a nut t the latter of which is used for tightening thetension of the said spring to adjust it in accordance with the pressuredesired.

XV designates a fixed spring, attached at one end to the frame K, thefree end thereof being bent down into the feedway so as to rise when acork strip is fed under it to the point in front of the cutter, but thesaid spring WV will not allow its return. This spring also acts as apressure guide preventing the strip of cork from rising from the saidfeed way. Beyond the said cutterin the direction of feeding the cork, anadjustable wall or plate XV similar-in position to jaw or plate L ismounted on the said feedway, being provided with a horizontal part orbase V having slots w running lengthwise of the machine. Clamping screws10 pass through these slots and into the body of the feedway below. Bytightening and loosening these, the adjustment of said plate is madepossible.

To prevent the cork strip from being fed too far,weemploya rigidfinger-X working through an opening 7' in the wall J in the directionopposite to that of the cutter. This finger is on an arm X of a longreciprocating rod X the forward part of which is guided and supported ina fixed bearing Q3 attached to or formed with the fixed wall J or otherfixed part of the machine. The other end of the said rod is mounted onthe upper end of an upright lever Y, which is pivoted by its middie tothe main frame A, the lower end of the said lever being connected to aretracting spring Y, which is fastened to said frame by a tension-adjusting screw-threaded rod y and nut 'y. The said lever above its pivotis provided with a shoulder Z which is arranged for contact with a cam Zon shaft 0 at each rotation of the latter. The spring Y acts to draw thepoint of the said finger into its position forholding the strip of cork.The cam and shoulder act to withdraw or force back the said finger fromsuch posit-ion. The main shaft is preferably driven at the rate of abouttwo hundred revolutions a minute; and the cutter at the rate of aboutone thousand.

The general operation of the machine is as follows. The parts beingproperly adjusted to the condition and length of the cutter and the sizeof the strip, as described, the main shaft and cutter arbor are put inrotation and the cork strips are fed in one after another the feeding ofeach one carrying forward the one before it. The feeding clamp, by theoperation of the connections before described, first is allowed to beclosed on the strip by the pressure of its spring, then moves forwardwith the. said strip just far enough to present the end of the block inposition to be cut, the springs W and V yielding, and guiding it, andthen holding it. Then the cutter advances and blocks or cuts out a corkfrom the strip, and, in returning, this cork is removed from the saidcutter by the clearer. The feeding clamp withdraws, simultaneously withthe withdrawal of the cutter, and just before withdrawing releases thestrip of cork. The said feeding clamp then seizes a new strip of corkand feeds it forward, and shortly afterward the finger X is caused toprotrude into the circular hole left in the cork strip by cutting thefirst cork out of it. The slight interval between this last action ofthe feeding clamp and that of the said finger is for the purpose ofmoving the first strip of cork sufficiently, by the feeding of the onebehind it, to let the said finger avoid the partition left between theholes. This should be as thin as possible. The cutter then advances andcuts again a cork out of the strip, the finger presser-bar and springsholding the said strip in position. Simultaneously with the Withdrawalof the cutter, the said finger also withdraws, leaving no obstacle tothe free feeding of the strip. The presser foot comes down on the corkstrip by the tension of its spring just before each advance of thecutter to do its work, and rises, relieving the said strip, when thecutter begins to recede.

Having thus described our invention,what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a cork-cutting machine the combination of a relatively fixed jawand a relatively movable one constituting together a feeding clamp withdevices for giving the said clamp a forward and backward feeding motion,a spring acting on the said clamp and means for positively operating thesaid movable jaw against the said spring, the said positively actingmeans and spring being arranged to cause the said clamp Enclose on thestrip of cork before feedingit forward and to automatioally release thesaid cork before returning substantially as set forth.

2. In a cork-cutting machine, the combination of a relatively fixed jawand a relatively movable jaw constituting together a feeding clamp, witha spring acting on said movable jaw to close t h e same actuatingmechanism IIO for reciprocating the said feeding clamp as a whole and adevice connected to said actuating mechanism and arranged to open thesaid jaw beforetho backward motion of the said clamp and to allow thesaid spring to close the said jaw before the said clamp begins itsforward feeding motion, substantially as set forth.

In a corkcutting machine the combination of a plate having lugs at theends and an inclined recess or face with mechanism for reciprocating thesaid plate, a clamping jaw movable at right angles to the said plate andprovided with a bar having a correspondingly beveled end arranged to beacted on by the beveled part of the said plate, a relatively fixed jawarranged between the said lugs of the said plate, and a spring bearingagainst the said movable jaw to fggceoitntgl ard the said fixed jaw, thesaid plate having ablight independent motion by reason of the lugs beingfarther apart than the width of the jaw between them, so that the springmay be allowed to close the clamp on the cork-strip which is to be fed,before the feeding motion begins and the said plate may open the saidclamp before carrying back the clamp to its first position substantiallyas set forth.

at. In a cork cutting machine the combination with a reciprocatingcutter of a pressure arm bearing on the stripof cork above the point atwhich the cutting takes place, mechanism arranged to bear intermittentlyon the said presser foot and a spring bearing on the said mechanism tosubject the said presser foot to yielding pressure when thus in contactbut leaving it otherwise not under tension substantially as set forth.

5. In a cork-cutting machine, the combination with a cutter, of apresser foot arranged to bear on the top of the strip during thecutting, a rock-shaft having two arms one of which holds down the saidpresser foot, an cecentric on the main shaft acting against the otherarm of the said rock shaft to lift it and free the presser-foot, and aspring attached to one of the said arms to hold them down and therebyhold down the said presser foot substantially as set forth.

0. In a cork-cutting machine, the combination of a cutter, feed way andfeeding devices with a spring pressed presser-foot bearing on the stripof cork opposite or nearly opposite to the point where the cutting takesplace and a spring attached to the said presserfoot and bearing on thesaid strip between the feeding devices and the pressenfoot for guidingthe strip to the latter and preventing damage from a broken or irregularstrip substantially as set forth.

7. In a cork cutting machine the combination of a cutter and feed waywith a pressure arm arranged to bear on the strip of cork, a pivotaldevice bearing intermittently on the said pressure arm, a spring drawingthe said device against the said pressure arm and a gage for regulatingthe distance to which the said pressure bar will be allowed to descendunder the action of the said spring substantially as set forth.

8. In acork-cutting machine the combination of a cutter and feedway witha pressure arm arranged to bear on the strip of cork, a shaft t and armsT T arranged to bear with arm T on the said pressure arm, a springoperating to cause this action, a rock shaft having an arm arranged forraising the arm T against the action of the said spring and actuatingmechanism for the said rock shaft substantially as set forth.

In a cork-cutting machine, the combination of a cutter and feedway witha springpressed pressure arm a screw for adjusting the same so that theholding position will be lower or higher and devices for correspondinglyadjusting the feedway up or down at will, in order that the central lineof the corkstrip may always be opposite the center of the cuttersubstantially as set forth.

10. In a cork-cutting machine, the combination of a cutter and feedwaywith a pressure arm for holding down the strips of cork, a gage-screwattached thereto for regulating the lowest position of the said arm, arockshaft having two detachable arms one of which bears on the saidpressure arm, a spring holding down the said arms of the rock-shaft acam acting againstone of them to lift them, and a clamping screw wherebythe said arm may be radially adjusted on the said shaft to correspondwith the adj ustment of the pressure arm substantially as set forth.

11. In a cork-cutting machine, the combination of the cutter and feedingmechanism with the feedway, a finger reciprocating longitudinally intoand out of the said feedway beyond the cutter to prevent the strip frombeing fed too far a fixed part of the machine provided with an openingto admit and guide the said finger, and mechanism for alternatelyprotruding and withdrawing the said linger substantially as set forth.

12. In a cork-cutting machine, the combination of a finger forpreventing the strips of cork from being fed too far, a rod which islongitudinally movable and carries the said finger with it in suchmotion, a rotating shaft and cam acting to force back the said rod andfinger and a spring acting to draw them forward so that the said fingerwill be in its holding position substantially as set forth.

13. In a cork-cutting machine, the combination of the longitudinallymovable cutter and cutterarbor with a shaft and pitman for reciprocatingthem, a sliding carriage provid ing bearings for the said arbor, aguideway for the said carriage and a fixed clearer which enters the saidcutter arbor and cutter to eject the cork from the latter as the cutterwithdraws substantially as set forth.

14:. In a cork-cutting machine, the combination of a cutter with afeedway which is adj ustable toward the said cutter to compensate forthe wear of the latter and also vertically to conform to the size of thecutter and of the cork-strip substantially as set forth.

15. In a cork-cutting machine, a feedingclamp for strips of cork,consisting of a relatively fixed jaw provided with a guide-way, a barhaving a beveled protruding end and movable in the said guideway, arelatively movable jaw which is fastened to the said bar, screws passingthrough slots in this latter jaw to allow its independent adjustment toconform to the width of the cork strip, a spring connected to said barand movable jaw for closing the latter, a plate and connections foropening the jaw and reciprocating the feeding-clamp asawhole and a frameformingthe SAMUEL F. ROTE. LEVI K. LANDIS.

\Vitnesses:

A. F. DONNELLY, CHARLES A. PETERS.

